A civic organization from Phoenix supported the March and March movement by calling for action against illegal migration, although fewer than thirty people were present at the public meeting.
The Voice of Phoenix
At its public meeting on Saturday, the organization (VOP) called on representatives of all races to participate in the fight against illegal immigration in South Africa. Candidates for ward councilors from various political parties and local community representatives were invited to the meeting.
VOP leader, Vassie Govender, stated that this civic organization was established by local activists to combat issues of poor service delivery and unemployment in Phoenix. His message to the government was very clear: stop illegal immigration, deport those illegally in the country, and pay attention to citizens' problems.
Govender said: 'South Africans, regardless of color or gender, must form a united front against illegal foreign nations in our country. The issue of illegal foreigners affects every citizen. This is a call for legality. We are fed up with illegal immigration in our country.'
He added that they have joined forces with March and March to eradicate this problem in Phoenix and surrounding areas. Govender emphasized: 'We are law-abiding citizens, which means all foreigners coming to our country must adhere to proper protocols.'
He urged Phoenix residents to join an anti-immigration group to protect the country from 'invaders.' Govender claimed that 'Phoenix is being invaded by illegal foreigners. Members of the March and March movement are dispersing them (illegal foreigners) in the center of Durban city, and then they arrive in Phoenix and our neighboring areas such as Vereul and Tongaat.'
Recent anti-immigration protests and unrest in Durban escalated into widespread arson and looting, resulting in numerous shops owned by foreigners, residential homes, and warehouses being burned. When asked about the rate of illegal immigration in Phoenix, Govender admitted he had no exact statistics but asserted that 'there are some illegal foreigners on all roads in Phoenix.'
He continued: 'All I can say is that our community has been invaded. We are fighting not humanity, but a system that has been brought to us. This system is illegal immigration.'
Govender noted that he supports March and March, but does not approve of vigilantism or property damage, even if it belongs to illegal foreigners. Responding to the question of the impact of illegal immigration on business and government institutions, he mentioned that he himself paid an average of 2000 rand for his granddaughter's school fees. He specified: 'I had to provide identification (ID) and documentation regarding my granddaughter to enroll her in school. I know one school where 800 students do not have proper documentation.'
Govender's message to illegal foreigners was clear: 'If you want asylum, go to your nearest country.' He urged: 'Do not bypass three or four countries to reach South Africa. If you are a foreigner, obey the laws of the country and avoid participating in illegal activities that paralyze our economy.'
He reported that March and March leader, Jacinta Ngobeze-Zuma, could not attend the meeting due to security concerns. Another March and March leader, Lindani Xulu, welcomed the support from the civic organization in the fight against illegal migration at the gathering. He stated: 'We decided to meet with the community, its leadership, and the local police to discuss the way forward regarding illegal immigration in Phoenix. We have a branch of the March and March movement in Phoenix, and we will use it to eradicate illegal foreigners in this area.'
Xulu strongly urged residents to join civic organizations to find out what is happening in their neighborhoods. He concluded: 'We must unite and have a purpose to fight for our country. South Africa belongs to all its peoples.'
Phoenix resident Hansraj Balliraj also expressed concern about illegal immigration and the future of the country. He stated: 'I am here because I care about the future of our country and our children. Many barbershops are opened by illegal foreigners, but local citizens are not hired there. The money earned in these barbershops illegally crosses our national borders.'
Balliraj also noted that it is difficult for children to find places in local schools due to the large number of foreign-origin children enrolled in local educational institutions. He added: 'I appreciate what Jacinta Ngobeze-Zuma and her team are doing. They must continue until we win this war against illegal immigration, and I fully support them.'